Electronic apparatus and method for controlling electronic apparatus

Cross-reference to related application

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-231670, filed on Nov. 27, 2015, entitled “ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, CONTROL UNIT OF ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, CONTROL PROGRAM, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS SYSTEM”. The content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to electronic apparatuses.

Background

Various techniques concerning waterproof electronic apparatuses that can be used underwater have been proposed. In some cases, such an electronic apparatus can perform a voice call function for underwater voice call communication when it is located at lesser depths accessible to radio waves.

Summary

An electronic apparatus and a method for controlling an electronic apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises an apparatus case, at least one processor, a submergence detector, and a motion detector. The at least one processor is configured to receive an incoming call from an external communication apparatus and to perform a voice call with the external communication apparatus. The submergence detector is configured to detect a submergence state in which the apparatus case is located underwater. The motion detector is configured to detect a predetermined specific motion of the apparatus case. The at least one processor controls a setting status of a motion answer mode in which the incoming call is answered and the voice call is accordingly started in response to detection, by the motion detector, of the specific motion. When the submergence state is no longer detected by the submergence detector, the at least one processor enables the motion answer mode.

In one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises an apparatus case, at least one processor, a submergence detector, and a motion detector. The at least one processor is configured to receive an incoming call from an external communication apparatus and to perform a voice call with the external communication apparatus. The submergence detector is configured to detect a submergence state in which the apparatus case is located underwater. The motion detector is configured to detect a predetermined specific motion of the apparatus case. The at least one processor controls a setting status of a motion answer mode in which the incoming call is answered and the voice call is accordingly started in response to detection, by the motion detector, of the specific motion. In a case where the at least one processor recognizes a connection state in which an external device including a sound output unit and a microphone unit is communicably connected to the electronic apparatus, when the submergence state is detected by the submergence detector, the at least one processor keeps the motion answer mode that has been enabled in advance active and enables the motion answer mode that has been disabled in advance.

In one embodiment, a method for controlling an electronic apparatus, which is configured to control a setting status of a mode in which an incoming call from an external communication apparatus is answered and a voice call with the external communication apparatus is accordingly started, comprises recognizing that a submergence state in which the electronic apparatus is located underwater is detected. When it is recognized that the submergence state has ceased, a motion answer mode is enabled. The motion answer mode is a mode in which the incoming call is answered and the voice call is accordingly started in response to detection of a predetermined specific motion of the electronic apparatus.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an example of an external appearance of an electronic apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic rear view of an example of the external appearance of the electronic apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an electrical configuration of the electronic apparatus.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of an internal configuration of a controller.

FIG. 5 illustrates example display contents on a display screen.

FIG. 6 illustrates example display contents on the display screen.

FIG. 7 illustrates example display contents on the display screen.

FIG. 8 illustrates example display contents on the display screen.

FIG. 9 illustrates example display contents on the display screen.

FIG. 10 illustrates example display contents on the display screen.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of a series of actions taken to control a setting status of a motion answer mode.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of a series of incoming call answering actions.

FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an example of an external appearance of an electronic apparatus system.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of an electrical configuration of an external device.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example of the electrical configuration of the electronic apparatus.

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates an example of the internal configuration of the controller.

FIG. 17 illustrates example display contents on the display screen.

FIG. 18 illustrates example display contents on the display screen.

FIG. 19 illustrates example display contents on the display screen.

FIG. 20 illustrates example display contents on the display screen.

FIG. 21 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of a series of actions taken to control the setting status of the motion answer mode.

FIG. 22 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of a series of actions taken to control the setting status of the motion answer mode.

FIG. 23 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of a series of actions taken to control the setting status of the motion answer mode.

FIG. 24 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an example of the external appearance of the electronic apparatus system.

FIG. 25 schematically illustrates an example of the internal configuration of the controller.

FIG. 26 illustrates a schematic rear view of an example of the external appearance of the electronic apparatus.

Detailed description

Embodiments of the present disclosure and various modifications thereof will be described below with reference to drawings. In the drawings, the constituent components having similar configurations and functions are denoted by the same reference signs and the description common to these constituent components will not be repeated. Each drawing is merely a schematic illustration, and thus, the size of the individual structure and the positional relation among various structures may be changed as appropriate. 1. One Example of Embodiments 1-1. External Appearance of Electronic Apparatus

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an example of an external appearance of an electronic apparatus 1 . FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic rear view of an example of the external appearance of the electronic apparatus 1 . The electronic apparatus 1 is, for example, a “waterproof” mobile phone such as a “waterproof” smartphone. The electronic apparatus 1 can communicate with another communication apparatus via, for example, a base station and a server.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the electronic apparatus 1 includes a cover panel 2 located on a front surface 1 a of the electronic apparatus 1 and an apparatus case 3 to which the cover panel 2 is attached. The cover panel 2 and the apparatus case 3 constitute an outer package of the electronic apparatus 1 . The electronic apparatus 1 has, for example, an approximately rectangular plate shape in a plan view.

The cover panel 2 includes a display screen 2 a on which various types of information such as characters, signs, and graphics displayed by a display panel 121 , which will be described below, are displayed. A peripheral part 2 b surrounding the display screen 2 a in the cover panel 2 is, for example, mostly black because of a film or the like laminated thereon. Most of the peripheral part 2 b of the cover panel 2 is a non-display area on which various types of information, which the display panel 121 displays, are not displayed.

Attached to a rear surface of the display screen 2 a is a touch panel 130 , which will be described below. The display panel 121 is attached to the surface opposite to the surface on the display screen 2 a side of the touch panel 130 . This means that the display panel 121 is attached to the rear surface of the display screen 2 a with the touch panel 130 therebetween. The user can accordingly provide various instructions to the electronic apparatus 1 by operating the display screen 2 a with an operator such as a finger. The positional relationship between the touch panel 130 and the display panel 121 is not limited to the relationship described above. For example, part of the configuration of the touch panel 130 may be embedded in the display panel 121 as long as an operation performed on the display screen 2 a with an operator can be detected.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , located in an upper end portion of the cover panel 2 is a second-lens transparent part 19 through which a lens of a second camera 190 , which will be described below, can be visually recognized from the outside of the electronic apparatus 1 . In the upper end portion of the cover panel 2 , a receiver hole 16 is provided. In a lower end portion of the cover panel 2 , a speaker hole 17 is provided. Additionally, a microphone hole 15 is provided in a bottom surface 1 c of the electronic apparatus 1 , or, in a bottom surface (a lower side surface) of the apparatus case 3 .

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , located in a back surface 1 b of the electronic apparatus 1 , or, in an upper end portion of a back surface of the apparatus case 3 is a first-lens transparent part 18 through which an imaging lens of a first camera 180 , which will be described below, can be visually recognized from the outside of the electronic apparatus

The apparatus case 3 houses an operation button group 140 including a plurality of operation buttons 14 . Each operation button 14 is a hardware button such as a press button. The operation button may also be referred to as an “operation key” or a “key”.

Each operation button 14 is exposed from, for example, the lower end portion of the cover panel 2 . The user can provide various instructions to the electronic apparatus 1 by operating each operation button 14 with a finger or the like.

The plurality of operation buttons 14 include, for example, a home button, a back button, and a history button. The home button is an operation button for causing a home screen (initial screen) to be displayed on the display screen 2 a. The back button is an operation button for switching the display of the display screen 2 a to its previous screen. The history button is an operation button for causing a list of applications executed by the electronic apparatus 1 to be displayed on the display screen 2 a. 1-2. Electrical Configuration of Electronic Apparatus

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the electronic apparatus 1 . As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the electronic apparatus 1 includes a controller 100 , a wireless communication unit 110 , a display 120 , the touch panel 130 , the operation button group 140 , and a microphone 150 . The electronic apparatus 1 further includes a receiver 160 , an external speaker 170 , the first camera 180 , the second camera 190 , a submergence detector 200 , a motion detector 210 , a clock unit 220 , and a battery 230 . The apparatus case 3 houses these components of the electronic apparatus 1 .

The electronic apparatus 1 includes at least one processor for providing control and processing capability to perform various functions as described in further detail below. In accordance with various embodiments, the at least one processor may be implemented as a single integrated circuit (IC) or as multiple communicatively coupled ICs and/or discrete circuits. It is appreciated that the at least one processor can be implemented in accordance with various known technologies.

In one embodiment, the processor includes one or more circuits or units configurable to perform one or more data computing procedures or processes by executing instructions stored in an associated memory, for example. In other embodiments, the processor may be implemented as firmware (e.g. discrete logic components) configured to perform one or more data computing procedures or processes. In accordance with various embodiments, the processor may include one or more processors, controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, or any combination of these devices or structures, or other known devices and structures, to perform the functions described herein. The controller 100 is a kind of an arithmetic processing unit and includes, for example, electric circuits such as a central processing unit (CPU) 101 , a digital signal processor (DSP) 102 , and a storage 103 . The controller 100 can control other constituent components of the electronic apparatus 1 to perform overall control of the operation of the electronic apparatus 1 . The electronic apparatus 1 may further include co-processors such as a system-on-a-chip (SoC), a micro control unit (MCU), and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The CPU and the co-processors may be used in cooperation or in a selective manner to perform various types of control of the electronic apparatus 1 .

The storage 103 includes a non-transitory recording medium readable by the CPU 101 and the DSP 102 such as a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). The ROM of the storage 103 is, for example, a flash ROM (flash memory) that is a non-volatile memory 103 b. The storage 103 can store, for example, a main program for controlling the electronic apparatus 1 and a plurality of application programs (also merely referred to as “applications” hereinafter). The CPU 101 and the DSP 102 execute the various programs stored in the storage 103 to achieve various functions of the controller 100 . The storage 103 can store, for example, a call application for performing a voice call and a video call and a camera application for capturing a still image or a video using the first camera 180 or the second camera 190 . The applications stored in the storage 103 include, for example, a control program Pg 1 for controlling the electronic apparatus 1 .

The storage 103 may include a non-transitory computer readable recording medium other than the ROM and the RAM. The storage 103 may include, for example, a compact hard disk drive, a solid state drive (SSD), and the like. All or some of the functions of the controller 100 may be achieved by hardware that needs no software to achieve the functions above.

The wireless communication unit 110 includes an antenna 110 a. The wireless communication unit 110 can receive, for example, a signal from a communication apparatus different from the electronic apparatus 1 or a signal from communication equipment such as a web server connected to the Internet through the antenna 110 a via a base station. The wireless communication unit 110 can amplify and down-convert the signal received by the antenna 110 a and then output a resultant signal to the controller 100 . The controller 100 can, for example, demodulate the received signal to acquire information such as a sound signal indicating the voice or music contained in the received signal.

The wireless communication unit 110 can also up-convert and amplify a transmission signal generated by the controller 100 to wirelessly transmit the processed transmission signal from the antenna 110 a. For example, the transmission signal from the antenna 110 a is received, via the base station, by the mobile phone different from the electronic apparatus 1 or the communication equipment such as the web server connected to the Internet.

The display 120 includes the display panel 121 and the display screen 2 a. The display panel 121 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an organic electroluminescent (EL) panel. The display panel 121 can display various types of information such as characters, signs, and graphics under the control of the controller 100 . The various types of information, which the display panel 121 displays, are displayed on the display screen 2 a.

The touch panel 130 is, for example, a projected capacitive touch panel. The touch panel 130 can detect an operation performed on the display screen 2 a with the operator such as a finger. When the user performs an operation on the display screen 2 a with the operator such as the finger, an electrical signal corresponding to the operation is input from the touch panel 130 to the controller 100 . The controller 100 can specify, based on the electrical signal from the touch panel 130 , the purpose of the operation performed on the display screen 2 a and accordingly perform processing appropriate to the purpose. The user can also provide various instructions to the electronic apparatus 1 by operating the display screen 2 a with, for example, a pen for capacitive touch panel such as a stylus pen, instead of the operator such as the finger.

When the user operates each operation button 14 of the operation button group 140 , the operation button 14 outputs, to the controller 100 , an operation signal indicating that the operation button 14 is operated. The controller 100 can accordingly determine, based on the operation signal from the individual operation button 14 , whether the operation button 14 has been operated. The controller 100 can perform the processing corresponding to the operation button 14 that has been operated. Each operation button 14 may be a software button displayed on the display screen 2 a, instead of a hardware button such as a press button. In this case, the touch panel 130 can detect an operation performed on the software button, so that the controller 100 can perform the processing corresponding to the software button that has been operated.

The microphone 150 can convert the sound from the outside of the electronic apparatus 1 into an electrical sound signal and then output the electrical sound signal to the controller 100 . The sound from the outside of the electronic apparatus 1 is, for example, taken inside the electronic apparatus 1 through, for example, the microphone hole 15 in the bottom surface (lower side surface) of the apparatus case 3 and then is received by the microphone 150 .

The external speaker 170 is, for example, a dynamic speaker. The external speaker 170 can convert an electrical sound signal from the controller 100 into a sound and then output the sound. The sound output from the external speaker 170 is, for example, output to the outside of the electronic apparatus 1 through the speaker hole 17 in the lower end portion of the cover panel 2 . The sound output through the speaker hole 17 is set to a volume such that the sound can be heard in the place apart from the electronic apparatus 1 .

The receiver 160 is, for example, a dynamic speaker. The receiver 160 can convert an electrical sound signal from the controller 100 into a sound and then output the sound. The receiver 160 can output, for example, a received sound. The sound output from the receiver 160 is, for example, output to the outside through the receiver hole 16 in the upper end portion of the cover panel 2 . The volume of the sound output through the receiver hole 16 is, for example, set to be lower than the volume of the sound output from the external speaker 170 through the speaker hole 17 .

The receiver 160 may be replaced with a piezoelectric vibration element. The piezoelectric vibration element can vibrate based on a sound signal from the controller 100 . The piezoelectric vibration element is located on, for example, the rear surface of the cover panel 2 . The piezoelectric vibration element can cause, through its vibration based on the sound signal, the cover panel 2 to vibrate. When the user brings the cover panel 2 close to his/her ear, the vibration of the cover panel 2 is transmitted to the user as a voice. The receiver hole 16 is not necessary when the receiver 160 is replaced with the piezoelectric vibration element.

The clock unit 220 can obtain the current time and can also obtain the current date. The clock unit 220 includes a real time clock (RTC) and the like. The clock unit 220 can output, to the controller 100 , the time information indicating the obtained time and the date information indicating the obtained date.

The battery 230 can output power for the electronic apparatus 1 . The battery 230 is, for example, a rechargeable battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery. The battery 230 can supply power to various electronic components such as the controller 100 and the wireless communication unit 110 of the electronic apparatus 1 .

Each of the first camera 180 and the second camera 190 includes a lens, an image sensor, and the like. The first camera 180 and the second camera 190 can individually image an object under the control of the controller 100 , generate a still image or a video showing the imaged object, and then output the still image or the video to the controller 100 . The controller 100 can store the received still image or the received video in the non-volatile memory 103 b (e.g. flash memory) or the volatile memory 103 a (e.g. RAM) of the storage 103 .

The lens of the second camera 190 can be visually recognized from the second-lens transparent part 19 in the cover panel 2 . The second camera 190 can thus image an object located on the cover panel 2 side of the electronic apparatus 1 , or, on the front surface 1 a side of the electronic apparatus 1 . The second camera 190 above is also referred to as an “in-camera”.

The lens of the first camera 180 can be visually recognized from the first-lens transparent part 18 in the back surface 1 b of the electronic apparatus 1 . The first camera 180 can thus image an object located on the back surface 1 b side of the electronic apparatus 1 . The first camera 180 is also referred to as an “out-camera”.

The submergence detector 200 can detect the state in which the apparatus case 3 is located underwater. That is to say, the state in which the electronic apparatus 1 is located underwater can be detected. This state is also referred to as a “submergence state”. For example, the submergence state can arise when the user, who holds the electronic apparatus 1 in the hand, submerges the electronic apparatus 1 in the water. The purpose for submerging the electronic apparatus 1 in the water is, for example, supposedly to capture an image or a video in the water using the first camera 180 and the second camera 190 of the electronic apparatus 1 . The submergence detector 200 may include, for example, a pressure sensor and the controller 100 . For example, the pressure sensor can measure, through a pressure-sensitive element, the pressure of a gas or a liquid against a member such as a stainless steel diaphragm or a silicon diaphragm, convert the measurement value into an electrical signal, and output the electrical signal to the controller 100 . The controller 100 can determine the pressure value based on the electrical signal from the pressure sensor. The controller 100 can detect, based on the determined pressure value, the state in which the apparatus case 3 is located underwater. Specifically, when the determined pressure value exceeds a predetermined threshold, the controller 100 may determine that the apparatus case 3 is located underwater. For example, the pressure value determined by the controller 100 in the state in which the apparatus case 3 is located underwater is measured in advance, and then, the predetermined threshold may be accordingly set to the determined pressure value as required.

Alternatively, the submergence detector 200 may include, for example, the controller 100 and a sensor capable of measuring electrostatic capacity. The sensor capable of measuring electrostatic capacity can measure the electrostatic capacity, convert the measurement value of electrostatic capacity into an electrical signal, and output the electrical signal to the controller 100 . The controller 100 can determine the value of electrostatic capacity based on the electrical signal from the sensor capable of measuring electrostatic capacity. For example, the controller 100 can detect, based on the determined value of electrostatic capacity, the state in which the apparatus case 3 is located underwater. The controller 100 may detect the state in which the apparatus case 3 is located underwater when the determined value of electrostatic capacity exceeds a predetermined threshold. For example, the value of electrostatic capacity determined by the controller 100 in the state in which the apparatus case 3 is located underwater is measured in advance, and then, the predetermined threshold may be accordingly set to the measurement value of electrostatic capacity as required. The sensor capable of measuring electrostatic capacity includes, for example, a touch sensor. The touch panel 130 may be used as the sensor capable of measuring electrostatic capacity. Still alternatively, the submergence detector 200 may include the pressure sensor, the sensor capable of measuring electrostatic capacity, the controller 100 , and the like.

The motion detector 210 can detect a predetermined specific motion of the apparatus case 3 . That is to say, the predetermined specific motion of the electronic apparatus 1 can be detected. The specific motion includes, for example, a motion involving an act of shaking the apparatus case 3 . The motion detector 210 may include, for example, an accelerometer and the controller 100 . The accelerometer can measure the acceleration generated in the electronic apparatus 1 , convert the measurement value of acceleration into an electrical signal, and output the electrical signal to the controller 100 . The controller 100 can determine the value of acceleration based on the electrical signal from the accelerometer. The controller 100 can detect, based on the determined value of acceleration, the predetermined specific motion. For example, the controller 100 detects the specific motion when the determined value of acceleration agrees with the value of acceleration associated with the predetermined specific motion. The accelerometer can measure, for example, acceleration along three directions including X, Y, and Z axes.

The specific motion may refer to the movement of the apparatus case 3 along a path that takes on a specific shape. The specific shape is, for example, a circle. 1-3. Configuration of Controller

FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram schematically showing an example of a configuration of the controller 100 . The controller 100 includes an application processor 100 a.

The application processor 100 a can read and execute, for example, applications stored in the storage 103 to perform various functions of the electronic apparatus 1 . The application processor 100 a can perform, for example, a voice call function, a web browser function, an email function, or the like. The applications to be executed by the application processor 100 a include, for example, the control program Pg 1 .

The application processor 100 a includes a voice call processor 111 and a setting processor 112 .

The voice call processor 111 can receive an incoming call from an external communication apparatus and perform a voice call with the external communication apparatus. Similarly to the electronic apparatus 1 , the external communication apparatus is, for example, a mobile phone such as a smartphone. Specifically, the voice call processor 111 includes an incoming call processor 111 a, an outgoing call processor 111 b , and a conversation processor 111 c. These functional units may be implemented by software. All or some of these functional units may be hardware.

When receiving an incoming call signal transmitted from a calling party through the wireless communication unit 110 , the incoming call processor 111 a can notify the user of the incoming call. For example, the incoming call processor 111 a can output, to the external speaker 170 , a sound signal corresponding to a predetermined ringtone. The external speaker 170 can convert the sound signal into a sound and output the sound.

When receiving the incoming call signal, the incoming call processor 111 a can display an incoming call screen on the display 120 . Examples of the incoming call screen are as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 . FIG. 5 illustrates an example of displaying, on a status bar STB 1 , an icon SM 1 indicating that a shake answer mode, which will be described below, is active. The status bar STB 1 , which is located in the uppermost part of the incoming call screen, is a display area on which icons indicating the current status of the electronic apparatus 1 are displayed. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of displaying, on the status bar STB 1 , an icon SM 2 indicating that the shake answer mode is inactive. The incoming call screen above shows information INF 1 on the calling party. The information INF 1 on the calling party may be any piece of information with which the calling party can be identified. Examples of the information INF 1 on the calling party include voice call identification numbers (e.g., telephone numbers) assigned to individual electronic apparatuses. In the illustrations of FIGS. 5 and 6 , the identification number of the calling party is denoted by a reference sign TN 1 . Since the identification number is contained in the incoming call signal, the incoming call processor 111 a obtains the identification number of the calling party based on the incoming call signal, and displays the identification number on the display 120 .

Information to be displayed as the information INF 1 on the calling party may include a name. The storage 103 stores, for example, telephone directory information. The telephone directory information includes a plurality of identification numbers and the names of the users corresponding to the identification numbers. The incoming call processor 111 a can obtain the identification number contained in the incoming call signal and then identify the name of the calling party based on the identification number and the telephone directory information. The incoming call processor 111 a can accordingly display the name on the display 120 . In the illustrations of FIGS. 5 and 6 , the name of the calling party is denoted by a reference sign NM 1 .

The incoming call screen illustrated in each of FIGS. 5 and 6 shows an element 111 Rs that functions as an answer button for use in answering an incoming call and an element 111 Rj that functions as a rejection button. When the user performs an operation on the element 111 Rs or the element 111 Rj, the touch panel 130 detects the operation and outputs the detected operation to the incoming call processor 111 a. The operation above may be an operation (a “tap operation”) in which the user brings an operator close to the element and then moves the operator away from the element. When being brought close to the element, the operator may be in close proximity to the display screen 2 a or may be in contact with the display screen 2 a. The incoming call processor 111 a can start a voice call in response to an operation performed on the element 111 Rs and interrupt communication with the calling party in response to an operation performed on the element 111 Rj.

The outgoing call processor 111 b can transmit, in response to an input of the user, an outgoing call signal to the calling party through the wireless communication unit 110 . The outgoing call processor 111 b can, for example, display an outgoing call screen (not shown) on the display 120 . The outgoing call screen shows, for example, elements that function as the input buttons for use in inputting an identification number and an element that functions as an instruction button for use in originating a call, When the user inputs an identification number and then provides an instruction to originate a call using these elements, the touch panel 130 detects the operations of the user and outputs the operations to the outgoing call processor 111 b. The outgoing call processor 111 b transmits, in response to the operations, an outgoing call signal to the calling party to which the relevant identification number is assigned. When the calling party answers the call, the outgoing call processor 111 b starts a voice call. When the calling party rejects the call, the outgoing call processor 111 b interrupts the communication between the user and the calling party.

During a voice call, the conversation processor 111 c can output, through the receiver 160 or the like, a sound signal received from the calling party and transmit, to the calling party, a sound signal input through the microphone 150 . The user and the calling party can accordingly perform the voice call.

The conversation processor 111 c may display a voice call screen (not shown) on the display 120 . The voice call screen may show an element that functions as a voice call end button. When the user performs an operation on the element, the touch panel 130 detects the operation and outputs the detected operation to the conversation processor 111 c. Upon receipt of the operation, the conversation processor 111 c ends the voice call.

The setting processor 112 can perform a mode setting processing in which the setting associated with a motion answer mode of the electronic apparatus 1 is performed or altered, in response to an operation of the user or according to the current use of the electronic apparatus 1 . The motion answer mode is a mode in which an incoming call is answered and a voice call is accordingly started in response to the detection, by the motion detector 210 , of the specific motion. As described above, the specific motion includes, for example, a motion involving the act of shaking the apparatus case 3 . In one example, when an application icon SA 1 for a mode setting processing is specified on the home screen displayed on the display 120 as illustrated in FIG. 7 , the mode control processing is performed. The application icon SA 1 is a graphic that corresponds to an application for the mode control processing and is for use in executing the relevant application.

The setting processor 112 can display a setting screen on the display 120 when the application for the mode setting processing is executed. One example of the setting screen is as shown in FIG. 8 . The setting screen is a screen on which the user can perform the setting associated with the processing that is to be executed in response to the detection, by the motion detector 210 , of the specific motion. As illustrated in FIG. 8 , a list of titles TM 1 of various types of processing to be performed in the electronic apparatus 1 may be displayed on the setting screen, where the user can specify, for each title TM 1 of the corresponding processing, as to whether to perform the relevant processing in response to the detection of the specific motion. Specifically, for each title TM 1 of the corresponding processing, the user may perform an operation, which will be detected by the touch panel 130 , on a radio button RB 1 , thereby specifying as to whether to perform the relevant processing in response to the detection of the specific motion. For example, FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the state in which “Answer the Call (Start a Voice Call)”, which is the title of one type of processing, is specified through the use of the radio button RB 1 . When the title “Answer the Call (Start a Voice Call)” of the processing is specified, the motion answer mode is enabled for the relevant processing.

The state in which the motion answer mode is active refers to the state in which the functions of the motion answer mode are performed properly. In the state in which the motion answer mode is active, when the motion detector 210 detects the specific motion, an incoming call is answered and a voice call is accordingly started. Conversely, the state in which the motion answer mode is not active or the state in which the motion answer mode is inactive refers to the state in which no functions of the motion answer mode are performed properly. In the state in which the motion answer mode is not active or in the state in which the motion answer mode is inactive, when the motion detector 210 detects the specific motion, no incoming call is answered and no voice call is accordingly started.

The setting processor 112 includes a mode setting unit 112 a, a display controller 112 b, and a setting controller 112 c. These functional units may be implemented by software. All or some of these functional units may be hardware.

The mode setting unit 112 a can, for example, place the electronic apparatus 1 in the motion answer mode when the user operates the setting screen as mentioned above. The mode setting unit 112 a can, under the control of the setting controller 112 c, enable or disable the motion answer mode according to the state of the electronic apparatus 1 . In one embodiment, the motion answer mode is, for example, a mode (also referred to as a “shake answer mode”) in which an incoming call is answered and a voice call is accordingly started in response to the detection, by the motion detector 210 , of a motion involving the act of shaking the apparatus case 3 . For example, the mode setting unit 112 a can cause the storage 103 to store the information on the setting status of the motion answer mode as needed, whereby the information is managed.

The display controller 112 b can display, on a standby screen or the incoming call screen displayed on the display 120 , an element corresponding to the current status of the motion answer mode set by the mode setting unit 112 a. Examples of the standby screen above are as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 . As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 9 , when the shake answer mode, which is the motion answer mode, is enabled, the icon SM 1 indicating that the shake answer mode is active may be displayed on the status bar STB 1 . As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 10 , when the shake answer mode is disabled, the icon SM 2 indicating that the shake answer mode is inactive may be displayed on the status bar STB 1 .

The setting controller 112 c can control the setting status of a mode in which an incoming call is answered and a voice call is accordingly started. Specifically, the setting controller 112 c can control the setting status of the motion answer mode. The setting controller 112 c can control the setting status of the motion answer mode in such a manner that the motion answer mode is enabled or disabled according to the current use of the electronic apparatus 1 . The current use mentioned above refers to, for example, whether the electronic apparatus 1 including the apparatus case 3 is located underwater (is in the submergence state).

The description continues in the full USPTO document.